SOURCE INSPECTION: CANADA, USA & INDIA
Independent third-party inspection at fabrication shops before equipment ships. API 510 and CWB Level 2 certified. Alberta year-round, USA and India by request.
Source Inspection for Fabricated Equipment
Source inspection is independent third-party quality assurance conducted at the fabrication shop before equipment is shipped to the buyer. The inspector verifies that the equipment meets project specifications, applicable codes, and the operator's quality requirements before it leaves the fabricator's facility. This allows deficiencies to be corrected without incurring field modification costs.
For pressure vessels, heat exchangers, piping spools, and other ASME-coded equipment, source inspection typically covers: review of fabricator quality documentation before work begins, witnessing of defined hold and witness points during fabrication, final dimensional and visual inspection, hydrotest witnessing, and a pre-shipment inspection report.
Norman QC provides source inspection with API 510 and CWB Level 2 credentials. This allows both pressure equipment inspection and welding QA to be covered by a single inspector. This matters for pressure vessels and heat exchangers where welded joints must be verified by someone qualified to assess both mechanical and welding aspects.
Source inspection is available at Alberta fabricators year-round. US Gulf Coast and India assignments are accepted by request and coordinated with the client and fabricator.
What’s Included
- -Pre-visit review of fabricator quality plan, ITP, and project specifications
- -Stage inspection at defined hold and witness points during fabrication
- -Welding QA inspection integrated with mechanical inspection, including WPS/PQR verification before welding begins
- -Final dimensional and visual inspection against drawing tolerances and code requirements
- -Hydrotest and pressure test witnessing and documentation
- -Documentation review and data report verification before sign-off
- -Pre-shipment inspection report with all findings, non-conformances (if any), and disposition
- -Non-conformance identification, documentation, and resolution oversight with fabricator
Where We Provide Source Inspection
Canada
Alberta fabrication shops (Edmonton, Calgary, Nisku, Leduc corridors)Available year-round for pressure vessel and piping spool source inspection at Alberta fabricators. Familiarity with ABSA requirements and Alberta operator specifications.
USA
Gulf Coast (Houston, Port Arthur, Beaumont, Corpus Christi)Source inspection at Gulf Coast fabricators available by request, coordinated around turnaround season travel assignments.
India
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil NaduSource inspection at major Indian fabrication hubs for Canadian and US operators purchasing ASME pressure equipment. Hybrid remote documentation review + single site visit model available to reduce travel cost.
India Source Inspection: Hybrid Remote + Site Visit Model
Full-duration source inspection at Indian fabrication shops is expensive due to multiple flights, extended accommodation, and significant time commitment for what may be a single item of equipment. The hybrid model provides QA coverage with reduced travel cost:
Remote pre-visit review
- -Fabricator ITP reviewed and approved before fabrication begins
- -WPS/PQR package reviewed and accepted before welding starts
- -Material certifications verified against ASME material requirements
- -In-process inspection reports reviewed as received from fabricator
Single site visit
- -Final dimensional inspection against drawing tolerances
- -Final visual inspection of all welds and surfaces
- -Hydrotest or pressure test witnessing and documentation
- -Pre-shipment report sign-off with complete documentation package
FAQ
What is source inspection?
Source inspection is independent third-party inspection conducted at a fabrication shop before equipment is shipped to the buyer. The inspector verifies that the equipment meets the project specifications, applicable codes, and the buyer's quality requirements before it leaves the fabricator's facility. This is standard practice for pressure vessels, heat exchangers, piping spools, and other critical process equipment purchased from external fabricators.
Why use a Canadian inspector for source inspection in India?
Western oil and gas operators purchasing equipment from Indian fabrication shops often specify that source inspection be performed by an inspector certified to North American standards such as API 510, API 570, or equivalent. An Edmonton-based API 510 and CWB Level 2 certified inspector understands the code requirements the equipment must meet, the project specifications that apply, and the documentation expectations of Canadian and US operators. This reduces the translation gap between North American buyer expectations and what a locally based Indian inspection agency might deliver.
What is the hybrid remote + site visit model for India source inspection?
The hybrid model is designed to minimize travel cost while maintaining complete QA coverage. The fabricator's quality documentation, including ITP, WPS/PQR packages, material certifications, and in-process inspection records, is reviewed remotely before the site visit. The site visit is then focused on final inspection, dimensional check, and hydrotest witnessing. All documentation is reviewed and accepted before the inspector travels, so the site visit is efficient and targeted.
What types of equipment do you inspect at source?
Pressure vessels, heat exchangers, air coolers, storage tanks, piping spools and prefabricated assemblies, structural steel, and skid-mounted process equipment. The primary qualification standards are API 510 (pressure equipment) and CWB Level 2 (welding inspection). Equipment must be designed and fabricated to ASME codes for Norman QC inspection to be applicable.
Which fabrication hubs in India do you cover?
The major pressure equipment fabrication clusters in India are in Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Ankleshwar), Maharashtra (Pune, Mumbai), and Tamil Nadu (Chennai). These hubs manufacture ASME-coded pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and piping spools for export to North American, European, and Middle Eastern oil and gas projects. Source inspection assignments in these locations are coordinated with the client and fabricator.
RELATED READING
WPS vs PQR: What’s the Difference and Why Both Matter
Source inspection often includes WPS/PQR document review at fabrication shops. This guide explains what’s being checked.
How Much Does Third-Party API Inspection Cost? (2026 Pricing Guide)
Source inspection pricing for Canada and the India hybrid remote + site visit model.
PLANNING A SOURCE INSPECTION PROGRAM?
Contact for a scope discussion. Alberta year-round. USA and India by request. Hybrid remote and site visit model available for India assignments.